London

When I first starting blogging about coffee, specialty coffee shops were few and far between, often in far flung places well off the beaten path. These days, it seems like you could throw a rock in any global mega city and hit a pretty decent coffee shop. In rare form, a recent trip to London saw me mostly visit coffee shops I happened upon (rather than meticulously — one might say obsessively — researched ahead of time). But even though I found these cafés by chance, I dare say they’re worth planning a visit to next time you’re in London.

Frequency

If there’s one thing about the shared economy that has us ready to return to conventional hotels, it’s the absurd hoops one has to jump through sometimes to get the key to an AirBnB. Thankfully, the mile walk between our key pick up location and apartment …

I began my lifestyle blog with something that is pretty central to it; and that is coffee. Being a stimulant, I find that coffee easily becomes a catalyst for conversation, creative thoughts and ideas.

Especially over the past year or two, I’ve had a bit of reawakening for the drink. It’s gone from the necessary morning wake-up routine, to a soothing break midway through an afternoon. But I’m obviously not alone with this thinking – and when you have a city like London, populated with citizens and travellers who all demand a coffee that ticks a number of boxes that other coffeehouses can’t, a problem arises. This is where Blue Crow’s London Speciality Coffee Map comes into play….

At The Compass we have tremendous respect for entrepreneurs. A great book we’re reading on the subject says that it takes heart, smarts, guts, and luck to successively start a business. In our estimation, Sandows London has got what it takes. Sure, it may sound kind of risky selling bottled cold brew coffee in a country best known for drinking hot tea, but like their Victorian strongman namesake, Sandows London is defying the odds. We got the chance to chat with founders Luke Suddards and Hugh Duffie and find out what it takes to start your own company in one of the world’s coffee capitals.

Tell us a bit about yourselves. How did you find yourself starting a cold brew coffee company?

Sandows London is Luke Suddards (25) and Hugh Duffie (22) and we became best mates working together at TAP Coffee, where we’ve been for the last few years. (Luke 3.5 years, Hugh 1.5 years) We’ve been fortunate …

TAP Coffee is one of our favorite cafes in London. From the souvenir spoons that grace each cappuccino and espresso to the carefully sourced and roasted coffees, TAP understands the importance of nuance and craft.

A new wave of coffee short films has shown us the world of coffee production, but From Ship to Cup, made by Juriaan Booij, highlights the last stage of the process. This stunning video reveals the meticulous work that goes into making your cup of coffee, including transport, roasting, cupping, and brewing. The observant viewer will notice one of TAP’s roasters, Hugh Duffie, hard at work both behind an espresso machine and at the helm of their vintage Probat roaster! In all, TAP has us wondering when we’ll get to make it across the pond again!

The Cafe You’ve Been Looking For

Every urban dweller is searching for the perfect side street: a quiet oasis one step removed from the hustle of the city. Store St. in the heart of Bloomsbury, London might be that perfect side street. It’s home to a handmade bicycle store, plenty of foliage, sidewalk seating, and, most importantly, Store Street Espresso.

The stark white interior and the naturally-finished wooden tables lend Store Street Espresso a certain tranquility. It’s the kind of coffee shop where you can chat with a friend, read a book, or, if you’re the guy at the table next to me, practice your calligraphy. The baristas stay busy serving customers, but I found …

Coffee as Poetry

In The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock, T.S. Eliot famously wrote, “I have measured out my life in coffee spoons.” Most Eliot interpreters understand the line to denote the protagonist’s disillusion with the monotonousness of modern society. I certainly don’t claim to be a literary critic, but a life measured out in spoons from London’s Prufrock Coffee wouldn’t be too …

London Calling

The English may stereotypically be tea-drinkers, but in recent years London has emerged as a coffee powerhouse with few rivals. Since London hosted the World Barista Championship in 2010, the cafe scene …